West Ham striker Andy Carroll has revealed some stern words from his fiancée has got him to change his high-intensity approach to training, in quotes published by BBC Sport.

The 27-year old has endured terrible luck with injuries over the years but after completing a rare injury-free pre-season, he is now seeing the benefits of lowering his aggression on the training pitch.

"My missus got on my case," said Carroll. "It started at home. When she set the ball rolling it was like 'oh yeah, I've got to listen'.

West Ham's Andy Carroll

"And obviously it's worked. There a lot of people who have tried to drill it into my head for three or four years now and I haven't really listened.

"You know, take it easy in training, because for my second goal I took out about four players, even my own players - and in training I do that as well, so that's not very good for me or for our players. So I just have to listen to people and take it easy," he added.

The former Liverpool and Newcastle man is likely to lead the line against Chelsea in next Monday’s Premier League opener. Slaven Bilic’s men travel to Stamford Bridge and will hope to replicate last season’s form against the top sides.

West Ham's Andy Carroll shakes hands with manager Slaven Bilic as he is substituted

With doubts over the futures of Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia, Carroll looks set to start the season as the Hammers’ main man up top and he will be determined to put his fitness issues behind him and deliver the kind of return his potential has always promised.

The powerful frontman has been unable to reach the heights that looked inevitable after his breakthrough on Tyneside but with a solid pre-season under his belt – including two goals against Juventus on Saturday – he looks as ready as ever for a special season.